New Flu Variant in China Sparks Fears of Another Pandemic
A team at the Changchun Veterinary Research Institute in China identified a strain called D/HY11, which first appeared in cattle in northeast China in 2023, as per the report. Their study found the strain could replicate in human airway cells and animal tissue, raising concerns that it may already be spreading among humans, as per the Daily Mail report.
Airborne Transmission Raises Alarm
Tests showed the virus could pass through the air between cows and ferrets, a finding that suggests it has the ability to spread through airborne transmission, a key factor in human infections, as per the report.
Blood tests added to the concern. About 74 percent of people in Northeast China were found to have antibodies for the virus, indicating prior exposure, as reported by Daily Mail. Among those who had recently suffered from respiratory symptoms, the number was even higher at 97 percent, as per the report.
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Researchers Warn of Ongoing Outbreak
Researchers wrote, “In summary, it is likely that IDV outbreak has metastasized into an ongoing problem for cattle and humans,” as quoted by Daily Mail.Further lab analysis showed the D/HY11 virus infected cells from humans, cows, pigs, and dogs across different parts of the respiratory system, including the nose, windpipe, and lungs, as per the report. In animal experiments, it spread from infected ferrets to healthy ones through the air, without direct contact, as per the Daily Mail report.
Resistance to Common Flu Drugs
The virus responded to newer antiviral drugs like baloxavir but resisted common flu medications such as Tamiflu, as per the report. Scientists also found that its polymerase, the part responsible for helping it multiply, was more active than usual, a sign of potentially easier spread among mammals, as per the Daily Mail report.
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Virus May Have Been Circulating for Years
Archived blood samples collected between 2020 and 2024 revealed that Influenza D might have been circulating in northeastern China for several years, as reported by Daily Mail. At present, there is no routine testing for IDV anywhere in the world, prompting concern over its quiet spread, as per the report.
The researchers warned that “This raises the possibility of cryptic transmission in humans with mild or asymptomatic infections via the emerging D/HY11-like viruses,” as quoted by Daily Mail.
They wrote that, “Currently, no routine IDV testing is carried out anywhere in the world, facilitating concerns about the silent spread of this panzootic virus and the potential emergence of new varieties,” as quoted in the report.
FAQs
What is Influenza D (IDV)?
Influenza D is a flu virus primarily found in cattle but now shows signs it may infect humans.
Where was this new strain discovered?
The D/HY11 strain was discovered by researchers in northeast China in 2023.
